CLOTHING AND ALLIED PRODUCTS TRAINING BOARD

HL Deb 01 August 1978 vol 395 cc1281-2WA

Lord EVANS of CLAUGHTON

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What steps they intend to take to re-examine the financial regulations governing the Clothing and Allied Products Training Board, particularly with a view to increasing the levy of 0.08 per cent. on firms and companies which do not set up training schools, thereby avoiding both the responsibility and real cost of training new entrants to the industry.

Lord WALLACE of COSLANY

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the financial arrangements for the funding of the activities of the Clothing and Allied Products Training Board are under regular review. The rate of levy (currently 0.08 per cent.) is under consideration by the Board as part of its review of training needs in connection with the programme of action put forward in the Manpower Services Commission report Training for Skills. The training of new entrants is accorded a high priority, but as most of the establishments in the clothing industry are small, their training needs may not warrant an in-company training school.